About

The Goal

The goal is to understand as complete a range as possibleof those living in these 4 single and relationship statuses. We recognize that our efforts may not completely capture your experiences. But, we encourage you to answer the survey as accurately and honestly as possible and we welcome your feedback.

This stage of the research includes only those 18 years and older who experience sexual attractions to same-sex adults.

Phase II

We hope this survey will serve eventually as a self-help guide for individuals who are in one of these relationship or single situations or questioning which life situation would fit best for them. We hope the results will also help friends and family be more informed and supportive.

This study is not designed to sway you to live one option or another or to invalidate any life choices.

Type of Study

This is an exploratory study. The type of sampling is called snowball sampling where one person participates and then recommends other people who meet the inclusion criteria. The results are not generalizable to any identifiable group of people but will be helpful as an exploratory effort to understand what may help increase life satisfaction in these relationship and single situations.

Wide Range of Perspectives

We hope the survey will be as informational as well as representational as possible. That is, we hope to gather experiences from as many diverse individuals to represent the range of what is possible and healthy.

Those who experience same-sex attractions but do not identify as LGB are encouraged to complete this survey. Similarly, we are interested in learning how the experiences of LGB-identified individuals are similar to and different from others who have diverse ways of self-identifying.

Managing Biases

In creating this survey, in addition to assembling an ideologically diverse research team, the authors gathered diverse feedback from additional professionals who represent a wide range, including seemingly opposite ends, of the sociopolitical spectrum. The study’s authors also plan on checking their data analysis with such individuals to ensure that results will be interpreted in a less biased way and, as one reviewer noted, so that “certain outcomes will be as valued or as accurately reflected as others.”

Benefits

Participating in this survey may be educational. Participants may learn a variety of ways to consider sexuality, religion/spirituality, relationships, life satisfaction, and coping with discrimination/rejection.

Trans and Intersex Issues

Because identity resolution for transgender and intersex (TI) individuals involves unique issues, this survey is incomplete in investigating their concerns and needs. The authors hope to expand this survey to incorporate TI experiences. In the meantime, TI individuals are encouraged to take the current survey, knowing of its limitations and unintended bias, and their data will be collected with the plan of using their information in a future version.

This survey and project have received Institutional Review Board approval from Idaho State University.